Ventilating louver unit

ABSTRACT

A ventilating louver unit having a peripheral frame defining and surrounding an interior space opening onto the front and rear of the unit. The peripheral frame has sidewalls having correspondingly inwardly extending outer flanges at the front and rear margins thereof and vertical ribs extending inwardly between the flanges. Louver blades pass through corresponding vertically spaced slots in said inwardly extending ribs and are wedged between the front and rear sidewall flanges. Each louver blade has a forwardly projecting rain-shield-forming portion resiliently urged against the rear surfaces of the ribs above each of the associated slots.

United States Patent [15] 3,645,195 Koval Feb. 29, 1972 [54] VENTILATING LOUVER UNIT Primary Examiner-Edward J. Michael [72] lnvemor' Robe" Koval Forest Park Attorney-Wallenstein, Spangenberg, l-lattis & Strampel [73] Assignee: Vent Products Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill. 122 Filed: Apr. 9, 1970 [571 ABSTRACT [21 App. Nu: 26,8 A ventilating louver unit having a peripheral frame defining and surrounding an interior space opening onto the front and rear of the unit. The peripheral frame has sidewalls having UsS- correspondingly inwardly extending outer flanges at the fr nt I "F24! 13/08 and rear margins thereof and vertical ribs extending inwardly [58] Field 0 Search ..98/l2l R, I21 A between the flanges Louver blades Pass through correspond ing vertically spaced slots in said inwardly extending ribs and [56] References and are wedged between the front and rear sidewall flanges. Each UNITED STATES PATENTS louver blade has a forwardly projecting rain-shield-forming portion resiliently urged against the rear surfaces of the ribs 1 Hoal R above each of the associated lots 2,862,439 l2/l958 Arbetman ..98/l2l R 3,358,580 12/ l967 Freese et al ..98/ 121 R 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures IIIIIIII I'll/[I'll 12 l i 5 I i Q "[4 2'2 w I 314/ 10 x I 20 4204/ 6 16 16 ,x" l 2 3 VENTILATING LOUVER UNIT This invention relates to ventilating louvers and most particularly to ventilating louvers which can be mounted in the outside wall of a building or the like.

A common form of ventilating louver mounted on the outside wall of a building includes a peripheral frame defining and surrounding an interior space openingonto the front and rear of the unit. The sidewalls of the frame generally have corresponding inwardly vertically extending front and rear flanges and inwardly extending louver-blade-positioning ribs between the flanges with vertically spaced slots through which rearwardly and upwardly inclining louver blades extend. The louver blades are sometimes wedged between the inner surfaces of the front and rear sidewall flanges. The louver blades are also sometimes provided with an intermediate rain-shieldforming portion extending the full length of the blade and projecting forwardly from the top surface of the blade to provide a rain shield which turns back rain water blowing into the front of the unit.

The present invention constitutes an improvement inventilating louvers of the type described in providing a more simple and sturdy construction per dollar of fabrication costs. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a forwardly projecting rain-shield-forming portion is provided in the intermediate portion of each louver blade which serves the additional function of providing a rigid anchoring support for the louver blade. In the preferred form of the invention, each of the louver blades is an extruded aluminum part where the rain-shield-forrning portion is a J-shaped section of the blade with the curved end thereof curving upwardly and forwardly of the mounted blade. Each side wall of the peripheral frame of the ventilating louver unit preferably has a single, inwardly extending, slotted, blade positioning rib through which the various louver blades extend. The front end of the forwardly curving rain shield is urged against the rear surface of the blade-positioning rib of each sidewall and thus forms an anchoring point for the blade between the front and rear mar gins thereof. In the preferred aluminum extruded form of the invention, another anchoring point for each blade is formed by a shoulder-forming protuberance on the bottom surface of each blade which is urged against the front surface of each side wall blade positioning rib.

The above and other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon making reference to the specification to follow, the claims, and the drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a ventilating louver unit incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the ventilating louver unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective fragmentary view, partly in section, of the left-hand side of the ventilating louver unit of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, partly broken away, of the upper portion of the louver unit shown in FIG. 2, taken along section line 4-4 thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1, as illustrated the ventilating louver unit thereshown includes a rectangular peripheral frame generally indicated by reference numeral 2 having separate top and bottom sections and 2a, and separate side sections 2b and 2b which are secured together at mitered corners by welding or the like to form a peripheral frame defining and surrounding an interior space 3 opening onto the front and the rear of the ventilating louver unit. Secured within the peripheral frame in a manner to be described are a series of rearwardly and upwardly inclining louver blades generally indicated by reference numeral 4. As best shown in FIG. 2, the louver blades are shown extending at an angle of approximately to the horizontal and are sufficiently closely spaced within the frame that the rear upper margin of each louver blades is positioned at a point well above the lower margin of the blade immediately above the same. The louver blades define upwardly and rearwardly inclining passageways 5 between the front and the rear of the ventilating unit through which air can pass in either direction through the unit.

ventilating louver unit may be mounted within an outer wall of a building in a conventional manner with the lowermost front margin of each louver blade being on the outside of the building so any rain water which blows against the upper surfaces of the louver blades can drain downwardly to the outside of the building.

Although the specific constructional details of both the frame 2 and the louver blades 4 may vary widely in accordance with the broadest aspects of the invention, the preferred from of the invention is as illustrated. To this end, each side frame section 2b or 2b comprises a main vertical peripheral wall 5 or 5' from the front and rear margins of which inwardly extend respective vertical flanges 6-7 or 6'7'. The front flanges 6-6' of the side frame section 2b-2b' define the side margins of a rectangular opening 3a into the front of the ventilating louver unit, and the rear flanges 7-7 thereof define the side margins of a rectangular opening 3a into the rear of the ventilating louver unit. Extending inwardly approximately midway between the front and rear flanges 6-7 or 6'7' of each side frame section 26 or 2b, is a vertical rib 8 or 8' which extends inwardly a greater distance than the associated flanges 6-7 or 6'7'. Each vertical ribs 8 or 8' has vertically spaced slots like slot 10 (FIG. 3) extending into the same, the slots extending completely laterally through the rib 8 or 8' and opening onto the inner edge 8a or 8a thereof. The side frame sections 2b and 2b (like all of the other parts of the ventilating louver unit) are most advantageously extruded aluminum parts having the identical cross section throughout as just described.

The top and bottom frame section 20 and 2a each comprises a main horizontal wall 10 or 10' (FIG. 2), from the front and rear margins of which inwardly extend front and rear flanges 12-14 or l2'-l4'. The inner ends of the front flanges 12-12 define the top and bottom margins respectively of the opening 3a into the front of the ventilating louver unit and the inner ends of the rear flanges 14-14 define respectively to top and bottom margins of the opening 30' into the rear of the louver unit. The various louver blades 4 respectively pass through corresponding slots 10-10 in the inwardly extending ribs 8-8 of the side frame section 2b-2b' and are rigidly anchored within the frame without the use of any fasteners or the like in a manner now to be described.

Each of the louver blades 4 has a front portion 16 including a straight upwardly and rearwardly inclining portion 16a from the front margins of which depend a vertical flange 16b. Each louver blade further has a rear portion 18 having a straight rearwardly and upwardly inclining portion 18a terminating at the rear thereof in an upwardly extending vertical flange 18b, in turn, terminating at the top thereof in a downwardly and forwardly inclining rain shield-forming lip 18c. The straight portions 16a and 18a of the front and rear portions of each louver blade are located in offset parallel planes, the rear portion 18a being displaced upwardly from the plane of the front portion 16a. The straight front and rear portions 16a and 18a of each louver blade are interconnected by a J-shaped intermediate rain shield-forming portion 20. The intermediate rain shield-fonning portion 20 comprises a straight portion 20a forming a continuation of the straight portion 16a of the front portion 16 of the louver blade and an upwardly and forwardly curved portion 20b terminating in a flat forwardly facing shoulder or nose 22, the upper margin of which smoothly merges with the straight portion 180 of the rear portion of the louver blade. Since in the preferred form of the invention each of the louver blades is an extruded aluminum part, each louver blade has the same transverse cross section throughout as just described. Also, the thickness thereof is appreciably less than the height of each rib slot 10 or 10' so it can extend therethrough at the 30 angle referred to. The .I-shaped intermediate portion 20 of each louver blade thus forms a rain shield which turns back any water blown by the wind or the like along the upper surface of each louver blade. If any water should reach the rear portion 18 of each louver blade, the

The water upon striking the upwardly extending flange 18b and lip 18s will be directed back down upon the upper surface of the louver blade. Water running down the upper surface of the rear portion 18a of each louver blade will drip upon the upper surface of the intermediate and front portions 20 and 16 of each louver blade and will finally run down the flat vertical face of each of the depending flanges 16 b at the front of each louver blade.

A shoulder-forming protuberance 24 extending from the bottom surface of the intermediate portion of each lower blade has a rearwardly facing vertical shoulder 24a. The latter shoulder 24a and the forwardly facing nose or shoulder 22 of the rain shield-forming portion of each mounted louver blade are in spaced vertical planes spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the ribs 8-8 of the side frame section 2b-2b. Also, to enable the louver blades to be wedged in place between the front and rear side wall flanges 6-7 and 6-7' in the unmounted condition of each louver blade, the

front surface 24 of each depending front louver blade flange 16b and the rear surface 26 of each upwardly extending rear louver blade flange 18b are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the spacing of the sidewall flanges 6-7 and 6-7'.

In order to mount each louver blade within one of the rib slots 10 or 10', an end of the louver blade is first inserted into the entryway of one of the slots 10 or 10' which, as above indicated, is located at a point inwardly of the ends of the sidewall flanges 6-7 or 6'-7', and the front and rear portions 16 and 18 of the louver blade are then respectively flexed downwardly and upwardly while pushing on the louver blade to position the blade fully in the slot and behind the flanges. With the release of the pressure on the front and rear portions of the louver blade, the front and rear blade portions spring outwardly into engagement with the inner surfaces of the sidewall flanges involved. This results in a reverse force which solidly presses the blade shoulders 24a and 22 of the rainshield-forming intermediate portion thereof against the rib 8 or 8'. Following the full insertion of all the louver blades 4 into the slots 10 of the rib 8 or 8' of one of the side frame sections lb or 2b, the other side frame section is applied over the opposite ends of the louver blades and each blade is fully inserted in a slot of the rib 8 or 8 thereof in a manner like that described above. The assembly of the ventilating louver unit is completed by placing the top and bottom frame sections 2a and 2a over and under the side frame sections 2b and 2b and then welding or otherwise securing the frame sections together.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made in the most preferred form of the invention described without deviating from the broader aspects of the invention.

lclaim.

l. in a ventilating louver unit which can be mounted in the outer wall of a building or the like, said unit comprising: a peripheral frame defining and surrounding an interior space opening onto the front and the rear of the unit, said peripheral frame including top and bottom horizontally extending walls and vertically extending sidewalls interconnecting said top and bottom walls, each of said sidewalls having corresponding inwardly extending front and rear vertical flanges at the front and rear margins thereof which flanges define the sides of front and rear openings into said interior space, and a vertical rib between said flanges extending inwardly into said interior space, the ribs of said sidewalls having corresponding vertically spaced horizontally extending slots passing laterally completely through the ribs and opening onto the inner edges of the ribs, the improvement comprising: vertically spaced parallel louver blades mounted in corresponding slots in said ribs, said louver blades inclining upwardly and rearwardly of the unit to provide inclined passageways between the louver blades through which air can pass in either direction through the louver unit, each of said louver blades having a front section including a straight, upwardly and rearwardly inclining portion from the front margin of which extends flange means resiliently urged against said front vertical flanges of said sidewalls, a rear section including a straight upwardly and rearwardly inclining portion from t e rear margin of which extends flange means resiliently urged against said rear vertical flanges of said sidewalls, the straight portion of the rear section of each louver blade being in a plane parallel to but offset upwardly from the plane of the straight portion of the front section of the louver blade, said straight portions of said front and rear sections of each louver blade being interconnected by a J-shaped intermediate rain-shield-forming section formed by a straight portion forming an aligned continuation of the straight portion of the front section of the louver blade and terminating at the rear thereof in a forwardly extending portion terminating in a forwardly projecting nose resiliently forced against the rear surface of said ribs above the associated rib slots.

2. The ventilating louver unit of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion of each louver blade has a vertically extending shoulder-forming portion below each rib slot through which it extends and urged against the front surfaces of said ribs.

3. The ventilating louver unit of claim 2 wherein said slotted ribs of the sidewalls project inwardly beyond the margins of the sidewall flanges so each louver blade can be first inserted into a rib slot and the front and rear portions then flexed inwardly to permit the louver blade to be pushed fully into the rib slot so release of the louver blade results in the outward springing of the louver blade into engagement with said side wall flanges.

4. The ventilating louver unit of claim 1 wherein the rear section of each louver blade forms a smooth surfaced connection with said nose of said forwardly extending portion of each louver blade, so any rain water splashing against the rear portion of each louver blade will drain onto the front section thereof.

5. The ventilating louver unit of claim 1 wherein each of the louver blades is an extruded part having the identical cross section throughout.

6. The ventilating louver unit of claim 5 wherein said vertically extending shoulder-forming portion is a downwardly extending protuberance on the bottom surface of each louver blade.

7. The ventilating louver unit of claim 5 wherein said peripheral frame is also an extrusion and said ribs are thin solid walls of the extruded material. 

1. In a ventilating louver unit which can be mounted in the outer wall of a building or the like, said unit comprising: a peripheral frame defining and surrounding an interior space opening onto the front and the rear of the unit, said peripheral frame including top and bottom horizontally extending walls and vertically extending sidewalls interconnecting said top and bottom walls, each of said sidewalls having corresponding inwardly extending front and rear vertical flanges at the front and rear margins thereof which flanges define the sides of front and rear openings into said interior space, and a vertical rib between said flanges extending inwardly into said interior space, the ribs of said sidewalls having corresponding vertically spaced horizontally extending slots passing laterally completely through the ribs and opening onto the inner edges of the ribs, the improvement comprising: vertically spaced parallel louver blades mounted in corresponding slots in said ribs, said louver blades inclining upwardly and rearwardly of the unit to provide inclined passageways between the louver blades through which air can pass in either direction through the louver unit, each of said louver blades having a front section including a straight, upwardly and rearwardly inclining portion from the front margin of which extends flange means resiliently urged against said front vertical flanges of said sidewalls, a rear section including a straight upwardly and rearwardly inclining portion from the rear margin of which extends flange means resiliently urged against said rear vertical flanges of said sidewalls, the straight portion of the rear section of each louver blade being in a plane parallel to but offset upwardly from the plane of the straight portion of the front section of the louver blade, said straight portions of said front and rear sections of each louver blade being interconnected by a J-shaped intermediate rain-shieldforming section formed by a straight portion forming an aligned continuation of the straight portion of the front section of the louver blade and terminating at the rear thereof in a forwardly extending portion terminating in a forwardly projecting nose resiliently forced against the rear surface of said ribs above the associated rib slots.
 2. The ventilating louver unit of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion of each louver blade has a vertically extending shoulder-forming portion below each rib slot through which it extends and urged against the front surfaces of said ribs.
 3. The ventilating louver unit of claim 2 wherein said slotted ribs of the sidewalls project inwardly beyond the margins of the sidewall flanges so each louver blade can be first inserted into a rib slot and the front and rear portions then flexed inwardly to permit the louver blade to be pushed fully into the rib slot so release of the louver blade results in the outward springing of the louver blade into engagement with said side wall flanges.
 4. The ventilating louver unit of claim 1 wherein the rear section of each louver blade forms a smooth surfaced connection with said nose of said forwardly extending portion of each louver blade, so any rain water splashing against the rear portion of each louver blade will drain onto the front section thereof.
 5. The ventilating louver unit of claim 1 wherein each of the louver blades is an extruded part having the identical cross section throughout.
 6. The ventilating louver unit of claim 5 wherein said vertically extending shoulder-forming portion is a downwardly extending protuberance on the bottom surface of each louver blade.
 7. The ventilating louver unit of claim 5 wherein said peripheral frame is also an extrusion and said ribs are thin solid walls of the extruded material. 